The Diocese of Niagara has a stewardship page on its web site which has a pointer to this:
Here in the Diocese of Niagara, discussion and approval of its 2009 budget was deferred until the 2nd Session of the 134th Synod on March 28, 2009; in anticipation of a balanced, vision-driven and achievable budget. That’s a positive approach, but overall the picture is rather bleak. The Council of General Synod (CoGS) approved the 2009 General Synod budget that “although pruned by $1.3 million, still projects a deficit of $745,639, with revenues anticipated at $8.6 million, and expenditures at $9.4 million.” CoGS also approved a motion recommending to General Synod in 2010 “that there be no deficit budgets for the work of General Synod after the year 2012.”
Opportunities for the Church
In tough times, people are drawn to churches, and clearly churches can’t sit idly by waiting for the economy to recover. “People are looking for community, compassion and hope.” So says Dr. Kennon Callahan, Presbyterian pastor, researcher, professor, and church consultant. The author of 15 books, Callahan stresses that “people are motivated by a theology of service, not a theology of survival.”His message seems simple enough: We’re places of compassion, community and hope; and we focus on mission and service. Callahan says “the churches that do best in church finances have a rich, full, abiding passion for mission. Strange, I thought Anglican churches were beacons of community, compassion, hope and mission. And they are, once people get to know them. But churches are declining, so perhaps this message is not getting through.
Elsewhere, the question posed is “Is the Message Getting Through?” What message and to whom?
The diocese believes that the message is for parishioners and the message itself seems to be: “We’re places of compassion, community and hope” and “a theology of service, not a theology of survival.” I would certainly agree that the message is not understood, since, in practice, the diocese seems to be more preoccupied with acquisition than compassion and survival than service; if it were otherwise, surely they would not be taking ANiC parishes to court in order to seize their buildings.
The true message of the diocese’s financial pickle is that, when a church ceases to preach the Gospel, God will no longer bless it and it will decline both numerically and financially. And the message is for those making the decisions: Bishop Michael Bird and the diocesan hierarchy.
When a church abandons God it can no longer claim to be Christian and forfeits any promises made in Scripture. This is one of the dioceses determined to lead the ACoC into the abyss of apostasy and irrelevance. God has not abandoned His church as evidenced by the formation of the ANiC and the Anglican Church in North America. Having rejected the authority of Scripture and uniqueness of Jesus Christ, the gates of Hell will prevail. We do pray for repentance but that seems humanly impossible when you have so-called bishops who believe God is subject to them.When a church abandons God it can no longer claim to be Christian and forfeits any promises made in Scripture.
Very well said, Frank.
“We’re places of compassion, community and hope” and “a theology of service, not a theology of survival.”
?????
What about being a place for Worship and bringing people closer to God? Oh ya. I forgot. The Diocese of Niagara has turne itself into a community service club with an emphasis on gay rights (like that’s the biggest problem with the world today).
“Anglicanism: it’s sort of like the Rotary Club, only with more politics, and we make you get up early on Sunday morning.”
How many people would respond to that sales pitch??
It seems to me that the following Scripture is most applicable to the situation in Niagara. The Church cannot survive when it is divided or when the enemy has filtrated to the point of apostasy. The ACoC needs to be lifted up NOT just in prayer but in prayer for “deliverance” from the chokehold that is upon it’s virtual neck, placed there by the enemy under the guise of social justice.
Matthew 12:29-30
29″Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. 30″He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
I just finished reading and meditating on zephaniah1:14-18 it must be frightening for those who are walking in disobedience to what God has laid out in His word.
Zephaniah1:14-18 says ,The great day of the Lord is near; it is near and hastens quickly,the noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; there the mighty men shall cry out. That day is a day of wrath,a day of trouble and distress,a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness, a day of gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,a day of trumpet and alarm against fortified cities, and against high towers.. I will bring distress upon men because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like refuse. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy for He will make speedy riddence off all those who dwell in the land. This portion of scripture paints a vivid picture of what the day of the Lord’s wrath is,Yes,the day God pours out His wrath upon the world will be a frightful day indeed, a day of trouble, distress, devastation, for all those who have sinned against the Lord, especially those who have sinned against the Holy Spirit. God’s wrath is reserved for the ungodly, those who would blaspheme the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spirit lead’s us into all truth, and it will not go against the written inspired word of God.I come in contact every day that would sacrifice more for the flesh than for their eternal soul. As a Christian, a follower of Christ I will not be moved by the things of this world even if i have to stand alone for the truth of God’s word i will no matter what, come what may. Jesus never changes He;s the same yesterday today and forever.
Dear Rita P; That great and dreadful day of the Lord! indeed! Your strength is your shield, but your faith is your deliverance. You are not alone – you will never be alone- and if circumstance allows that you find yourself standing alone against your accusers (as so many have) your faith will show you the Majesty of our Lord waiting with out-stretched arms to receive you into His Kingdom. Selah
Thanks be to God.